gods and goddesses

Aphrodite (Ἀφροδίτη, Aphroditē)

Goddess of beauty, love, desire, and pleasure. Although married to Hephaestus she had many
lovers, most notably Ares, Adonis, and Anchises. She was depicted as an extraordinarily beautiful
woman, with poets praising the radiance of her smile in particular. Her symbols include roses and
other flowers, the scallop shell, and the myrtle wreath. Her sacred animals include doves and
sparrows. Her Roman counterpart is Venus.

Apollo (Ἀπόλλων, Apóllōn)

God of music, arts, knowledge, healing, plague, prophecy, poetry, manly beauty, and archery. He is
the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis. Both Apollo and Artemis use a bow and
arrow. Apollo is often incorrectly identified as the god of the sun. Although Apollo is the god of the
sun in Roman mythology, Helios is the god of the sun in Greek mythology. In sculpture, Apollo is
depicted as a very handsome, beardless young man with long hair and an ideal physique. As the
embodiment of perfectionism, he could be cruel and destructive, and his love affairs were rarely
happy. He often appears in the company of the Muses. His attributes include the laurel
wreath and lyre. His sacred animals include roe deer, swans, cicadas, hawks, ravens, crows, foxes,
mice, and snakes. His Roman counterpart is also named Apollo.

Ares (Ἄρης, Árēs)

God of war, bloodshed, and violence. The son of Zeus and Hera, he was depicted as a beardless
youth, either nude with a helmet and spear or sword, or as an armed warrior. Homer portrays him as
moody and unreliable, and he generally represents the chaos of war in contrast to Athena, a
goddess of military strategy and skill. Ares is known for cuckolding his brother Hephaestus and
conducting an affair with Aphrodite. His sacred animals include vultures, venomous snakes, dogs,
and boars. His Roman counterpart Mars by contrast was regarded as the dignified ancestor of the
Roman people.

Artemis (Ἄρτεμις, Ártemis)

Virgin goddess of the hunt, wilderness, animals, young girls, childbirth, and plague. In later times
Artemis became associated with bows and arrows. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin
sister of Apollo. In art she is often depicted as a young woman dressed in a short knee-
length chiton and equipped with a hunting bow and a quiver of arrows. Her attributes include hunting
spears, animal pelts, deer and other wild animals. Her sacred animals include deer, bears, and wild
boars. Her Roman counterpart is Diana.

Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ, Athēnâ)

Goddess of reason, wisdom, intelligence, skill, peace, warfare, battle strategy, and handicrafts.
According to most traditions, she was born from Zeus's forehead, fully formed and armored. She is
depicted as being crowned with a crested helm, armed with shield and spear, and wearing
the aegis over a long dress. Poets describe her as "grey-eyed" or having especially bright, keen
eyes. She is a special patron of heroes such as Odysseus. She is the patron of the city Athens
(which was named after her) and is attributed to various inventions in arts and literature. Her symbol
is the olive tree. She is commonly shown as being accompanied by her sacred animal, the owl. Her
Roman counterpart is Minerva.
Demeter (Δημήτηρ, Dēmētēr)
Goddess of grain, agriculture, harvest, growth, and nourishment. Demeter is a daughter
of Cronus and Rhea, and a sister of Zeus, by whom she bore Persephone. Demeter is one of the
main deities of the Eleusinian Mysteries, in which her power over the life cycle of plants symbolizes
the passage of the human soul through life and into the afterlife. She is depicted as a mature
woman, often crowned and holding sheafs of wheat and a torch. Her symbols are the cornucopia,
wheat-ears, the winged serpent, and the lotus staff. Her sacred animals include pigs and snakes.
Her Roman counterpart is Ceres.

Dionysus (Διόνυσος, Diónysos)/Bacchus (Βάκχος, Bákkhos)

God of wine, fruitfulness, parties, festivals, madness, chaos, drunkenness, vegetation, and ecstasy.
In art he is depicted as either an older bearded god or an effeminate, long-haired youth. His
attributes include the thyrsus, a drinking cup, the grape vine, and a crown of ivy. He is often in the
company of his thiasos, a group of attendants including satyrs, maenads, and his old tutor Silenus.
The consort of Dionysus was Ariadne. His sacred animals include dolphins, serpents, tigers, and
donkeys. A later addition to the Olympians, in some accounts he replaced Hestia. Bacchus was
another name for him in Greek, and came into common usage among the Romans.

Hades (ᾍδης, Hádēs)/Pluto (Πλούτων, Ploutōn)

God of the underworld and the dead. His consort is Persephone. His attributes are the drinking
horn or cornucopia, key, sceptre, and the three-headed dog Cerberus. His sacred animals include
the screech owl. He was one of three sons of Cronus and Rhea, and thus sovereign over one of the
three realms of the universe, the underworld. As a chthonic god, however, his place among the
Olympians is ambiguous. In the mystery religions and Athenian literature, Pluto ("the Rich") was his
preferred name, with Hades referring to the underworld itself. The Romans translated Plouton as Dis
Pater ("the Rich Father") or Pluto.

Hephaestus (Ἥφαιστος, Hḗphaistos)

God of fire, metalworking, and crafts. Either the son of Zeus and Hera or Hera alone, he is the smith
of the gods and the husband of the adulterous Aphrodite. He was usually depicted as a bearded,
crippled man with hammer, tongs, and anvil, and sometimes riding a donkey. His sacred animals
include the donkey, the guard dog, and the crane. Among his creations was the armor of Achilles.
Hephaestus used the fire of the forge as a creative force, but his Roman counterpart Vulcan was
feared for his destructive potential and associated with the volcanic power of the earth.

Hera (Ἥρα, Hḗra)

Queen of the gods, and goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, heirs, kings, and empires. She is
the wife and sister of Zeus, and the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She was usually depicted as a
regal woman in the prime of her life, wearing a diadem and veil and holding a lotus-tipped staff.
Although she is the goddess of marriage, Zeus's many infidelities drive her to jealousy and
vengefulness. Her sacred animals include the heifer, the peacock, and the cuckoo. Her Roman
counterpart is Juno.
Hermes (Ἑρμῆς, Hērmēs)
God of boundaries, travel, communication, trade, language, and writing. The son of Zeus and Maia,
Hermes is the messenger of the gods, and a psychopomp who leads the souls of the dead into the
afterlife. He was depicted either as a handsome and athletic beardless youth, or as an older bearded
man. His attributes include the herald's wand or caduceus, winged sandals, and a traveler's cap. His
sacred animals include the tortoise. His Roman counterpart is Mercury.

Hestia (Ἑστία, Hestía)

Virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and chastity. She is a daughter of Rhea and Cronus, and a
sister of Zeus. Not often identifiable in Greek art, she appeared as a modestly veiled woman. Her
symbols are the hearth and kettle. In some accounts, she gave up her seat as one of the Twelve
Olympians in favor of Dionysus, and she plays little role in Greek myths. Her Roman
counterpart Vesta, however, was a major deity of the Roman state.

Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν, Poseidōn)

God of the sea, rivers, floods, droughts, and earthquakes. He is a son of Cronus and Rhea, and the
brother of Zeus and Hades. He rules one of the three realms of the universe, as king of the sea and
the waters. In art he is depicted as a mature man of sturdy build, often with a luxuriant beard, and
holding a trident. His sacred animals include the horse and the dolphin. His wedding
with Amphitrite is often presented as a triumphal procession. In some stories he rapes Medusa,
leading to her transformation into a hideous Gorgon and also to the birth of their two children,
Pegasus and Chrysaor. His Roman counterpart is Neptune.

Zeus (Ζεύς, Zeus)

King of the gods, ruler of Mount Olympus, and god of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, law, order,
and justice. He is the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea. He overthrew Cronus and gained the
sovereignty of heaven for himself. In art he is depicted as a regal, mature man with a sturdy figure
and dark beard. His usual attributes are the royal scepter and the lightning bolt. His sacred animals
include the eagle and the bull. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter, also known as Jove.
 OLYMPIAN GREEK GODS

APOLLO

Apollo was the son of Leto and Zeus. He was born on the island of Delos. He
and his twin sister Artemis, also an Olympian, shared an aptitude for archery.
The nine Muses were companions of his; they were goddesses known for
inspiring art and music.

ARES

He was the son of Zeus and Hera, both of whom hated him (according to
Homer). Eros (more commonly known as Cupid) was the child of Ares and
Aphrodite. Ares was most notably referred to as the God of War; he
represented the unpleasant aspects of battle.

DIONYSUS

Dionysus was primarily known as the God of the Vine. Upon reaching
adulthood, Dionysus wandered the Earth, teaching men the culture of the
vine. Dionysus was the last god to enter Olympus.

HADES

He was also called the God of Wealth or “the rich one” because he possessed
the precious metals of the earth. Hades had a cap or helmet that made its
wearer invisible. His wife was Persephone, Demeter’s only daughter, whom
he kidnapped and made his queen.

HEPHAESTUS

Hephaestus was the only ugly god among perfectly beautiful immortals. He
was the workman of the immortals: he made their dwellings, furnishings, and
weapons. Hephaestus was known as the God of Fire.
HERMES

Hermes was considered a “trickster” due to his cunning and clever

personality. He primarily served as the herald or messenger of the gods.
Hermes was born in a cave on a mountain in Arcadia; he was conceived and
born within the course of one day.

POSEIDON

Poseidon was allotted his dominion after the fall of the Titans. He wielded the
trident or three-pronged spear, and this image of him is reflected in art.
Poseidon was most notably the God of the sea and the protector of all waters.

ZEUS

Zeus was the father of the famous Greek hero Hercules. The name Zeus
means "bright" or "sky." His weapon of choice was the thunderbolt, made for
him by the Cyclops.

OLYMPIAN GREEK GODDESSES

APHRODITE

Aphrodite was the goddess of fertility, love, and beauty. During the Trojan
War, Aphrodite fought on the side of Paris. Aphrodite and her son Eros
(Cupid) teamed up to cause Zeus to fall in love with a human named Europa.

ARTEMIS

Artemis was daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister of Apollo. She was
primarily a virgin huntress, goddess of wildlife and patroness of hunters. She
was an important goddess in the lives of women, especially when it came to
marriage and young creatures.
ATHENA

Athena was the Goddess of War, the female counterpart of Ares. She is one
of three virgin goddesses; the other two were Hestia and Artemis. Athena
served as a guardian of Athens, where the Parthenon served as her temple.

DEMETER

Demeter was the daughter of Cronos and Rhea. She was the goddess of
harvest and fertility. Only women attended the Thesmophoria, a fertility
festival held in honor of Demeter.

HERA

Hera was Queen of the Olympian gods. In the story of the Quest of the
Golden Fleece, Hera was a gracious protector of the heroes. Hera had few, if
any, redeeming qualities. She never forgot an injury.

HESTIA

Although Hestia appeared in a few stories, she was not overly significant in
Greek mythology. She was a sibling to Demeter, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, and
Zeus. Hestia is completely omitted from the works of Homer, author of the
Iliad and the Odyssey.